Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls is a city of about 184,000 (2019) in Southeast South Dakota. Founded in 1883 in what was then known as the Dakota Territory, Sioux Falls has grown from a sleepy Midwestern town into a resort for shopping and tourism in the northern Great Plains. It is widely recognized as the largest urban center between Minneapolis and Denver.

Understand

 * Experience Sioux Falls website

Get in
Sioux Falls may be traveled by car, but also has courier and taxi service, as well as trolley service downtown in the summer. There is a municipal bus service, but it shuts down rather early in the evenings. The Sioux Falls Airport (FSD), 2801 N. Jaycee Lane, is the major airport in the area. The Sioux Falls Bus Terminal (SXF), 1500 W Russell St, serves virtually the entire continental North America.

By car
Sioux Falls is at the intersection of two major interstates, I-90 and I-29. Another interstate, I-229, travels from the southwestern part of the city to the northeastern part. This forms a loop around the city.

From Chicago, travel west on I-90 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is eight hours.

From Denver, travel east on I-76 into Nebraska until the I-80 interchange. Merge east onto I-80. Stay east on I-80 until you reach Omaha. From there, go north on I-29 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is nine hours.

From Kansas City, travel north on I-29 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is five hours.

From Minneapolis, travel south on I-35, and then west on I-90 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is four hours. An alternative route would be US Highway 169 southwest of out the western suburbs of Minneapolis. Travel south on Minnesota State Highway 60, just west of Mankato. Travel southwest to Worthington, and travel west on I-90 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is four hours.

From Fargo, travel south on I-29 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is four hours.

From Montana, Wyoming, and Rapid City, Travel east on I-90 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time from Rapid City is five hours.

Once in Sioux Falls, the interstate exits are:


 * Exit 75/I-29: Intersection with I-229, which runs from the southwest to northeast corner of the city
 * Exit 77/I-29: 41st Street, a key area for shopping, restaurants, and hotels
 * Exit 78/I-29: Louise Avenue/26th Street, another link to the shopping area around the Empire Mall
 * Exit 79/I-29: 12th Street, another major east-west street that leads to the downtown area
 * Exit 80/I-29: Madison Street, the exit to reach the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds
 * Exit 81/I-29: Russell Street/Maple Street, the Arena/Convention Center/Falls Park exit with numerous hotels
 * Exit 82/I-29: Benson Road, exit to new housing development on the northwest side
 * Exit 83/I-29: 60th Street North, the airport exit
 * Exit 84A/I-29: Intersection with I-90 East
 * Exit 84B/I-29: Intersection with I-90 West
 * Exit 395/I-90: Marion Road
 * Exit 396A/I-90: Intersection with I-29 South
 * Exit 396B/I-90: Intersection with I-29 North
 * Exit 399/I-90: Cliff Avenue, exit to the airport, as well as Falls Park
 * Exit 400/I-90: Intersection with I-229

By bus
Jefferson Lines provides bus service into Sioux Falls from a number of U.S. and Canadian cities, including Dallas, Tulsa, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Chicago, Billings and Winnipeg. Connections with Greyhound and numerous other bus companies mean Sioux Falls is accessible from anywhere within the continental USA, Canada and Mexico. Fares range from $50-200 round-trip, depending on your point of origination. All buses arrive and depart from the Sioux Falls Bus Depot.

The terminal has been described as one of the nicest in the country - it is clean, comfortable with a TV lounge, internet cafe, souvenir gift store and snack bar.


 * Sioux Falls Bus Depot, 1500 W. Russell Street, . It is within walking distance (less than a half-mile) to the Sioux Falls Arena & Convention Center and the surrounding hotels.

Onward car transportation from the bus station to all parts of South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota from Sioux Falls by Cross Courier & Dispatch.

By car
While there is some public transportation in Sioux Falls and taxis are generally available, the easiest way to get around the city is by car. Roads are generally well-maintained (with the occasional summer road construction) and traffic is quite light by typical North American standards, especially considering the exponential growth of the city.

Sioux Falls is at the intersection of I-29 and I-90. Another interstate, I-229, runs from the southwest to northeast corner of the city, meaning that the vast majority of Sioux Falls is accessible via an interstate.

Most of the major attractions, shopping areas, and dining establishments are located near two major east-west roads - 12th Street and 41st Street. Minnesota Avenue also has a large selection of restaurants and shopping places.

By bus
Sioux Falls Metro operates 15 bus routes throughout the city. Fares are $1 for adults with books of 10 available for a 15 percent discount.

Buses generally run every half-hour during the day, but nearly all routes stop running by 7PM and bus service on weekends is very limited.

By ride share
Lyft, ride share service has been available in the Sioux Falls area since 2017. (Uber is not).

By taxi
There are a handful of taxi services that operate in Sioux Falls. Fares are reasonable by U.S. standards:


 * Best Taxi - Affordable Airport Taxi, +1 605-496-3751.
 * Reliable Taxi Service Sioux Falls South Dakota, +1 605-653-2754.

By trolley
Sioux Falls Transit operates a trolley that operates Monday through Saturday from 10AM-8PM during the summer, and on Saturdays through the fall. The trolley operates through downtown Sioux Falls from Falls Park to the Washington Pavilion.

Falls Park
The natural wonder that gave Sioux Falls its name, Falls Park offers multiple viewing areas and a five-story observation tower. From there, you can view not only the impressive waterfalls but some of the city's earliest and most historic buildings.



Do

 * - located in Sioux Falls
 * - located in Sioux Falls
 * - located in Sioux Falls

Golf
Sioux Falls has a surprising range of golf options for a mid-sized city, with courses of varying degrees of difficulty and comparably low greens fees. It is important to call early for tee times, especially in the spring and early summer.

There are two other golf courses in town, associated with the Minnehaha Country Club and Westward Ho Country Club, but they are rarely open to non-members.

Sports
Sioux Falls is home to a number of professional sports teams that play a variety of sports. It is also home to two NCAA Division II schools and one Division I conference, with the conference holding its men's and women's basketball tournaments in the city.
 * The University of Sioux Falls Cougars and the Augustana Vikings college sports programs are based in Sioux Falls.
 * The University of Sioux Falls Cougars and the Augustana Vikings college sports programs are based in Sioux Falls.
 * The University of Sioux Falls Cougars and the Augustana Vikings college sports programs are based in Sioux Falls.
 * The University of Sioux Falls Cougars and the Augustana Vikings college sports programs are based in Sioux Falls.
 * The University of Sioux Falls Cougars and the Augustana Vikings college sports programs are based in Sioux Falls.
 * The University of Sioux Falls Cougars and the Augustana Vikings college sports programs are based in Sioux Falls.

Outside of town
If you're interested in a night of gambling, Grand Falls Hotel & Casino is less than 15 minutes east of Sioux Falls on Highway 42 and Royal River Hotel & Casino is less than one hour north of Sioux Falls in Flandreau.

Eat
Sioux Falls offers many ethnic restaurants throughout the city, offering ethnic Balkan, Italian, Ethiopian and eastern Asian cuisine. You can also find all of the usual chain restaurant suspects (everything from Outback Steakhouse to Olive Garden) the number of remarkable independent restaurants is small. However, there are a few eateries in the budget (less than $10), mid-range (less than $20) and splurge (more than $20) categories to get you by.

Splurge




Drink
Sioux Falls does sport a variety of nightclub options:

Sleep
Accommodations in Sioux Falls are plentiful. Budget accommodations will generally run less than $60 per night, while a mid-range hotel shouldn't cost more than $100. Since most hotels cater to business travelers, weekend deals are frequent and it doesn't hurt to call the hotel directly to try to get the best rate.

Go next
Sioux Falls is an ideal launching pad for several day trips.


 * The two major state universities in South Dakota. South Dakota State University in Brookings and the University of South Dakota in Vermillion are each within an hour's drive on I-29.
 * Just a few miles west of Sioux Falls on I-90, Buffalo Ridge offers a cowboy ghost town experience.
 * The town of Mitchell is approximately one hour west of Sioux Falls on I-90, and is home to several attractions including the world-famous Corn Palace.
 * The Black Hills are approximately a four-to-five-hour drive west of Sioux Falls, which makes the city a convenient stopping point either going to or coming from that tourist destination.
 * Palisades State Park is northeast of Sioux Falls (Exits 406 and 410 off I-90). Buy a day pass into the park and explore the beautiful pink cliffs and rocks. You can even rock climb there if you have your own equipment.